THE RIVER AA. 187 



When tired of the water above Fauquembergues, the 

 unglcr will find a series of excellent streams a mile or 

 two below the town; especially at St. Marcq Lieven 

 Ouve, Wavrans, and Lumbres. The streams in all these 

 villages are delicious. They swirl and whirl round 

 stumps and stones, and little promontories, in the most 

 picturesque and agreeable way possible; and the cheer- 

 ing scenery in the vicinity the bold bare hills the 

 verdant meadows the romantic villages, with their 

 unrivalled churches the noble trees which crowd the 

 beautiful valley through which the river glides, and 

 shade its banks from the noon-tide heats, combine to 

 render the fishing 011 this lovely water most fascinating 

 and exciting. 



To the remarkably well built and extremely beautiful 

 church of the sweet retired village of St. Lieven, the 

 sailors from Boulogne and the adjoining coast, and even 

 from Normandy, make occasional pilgrimages, in order 

 to hang up, on its walls and altar, those kinds of votive 

 offerings, so conspicuous in the little chapels which, at 

 Gravelines and other places, are planted by the very 

 margin of the sea. Sailors, in all countries, have their 

 own strange superstitions; but the church of Rome, true 

 to her system, has the skill and adroitness to direct those 

 of the French manner into the capacious channel of the 

 church, and thus keeps them in some degree of subser- 

 vience to the Christian faith. 



And here, once for all, it may be remarked, that the 

 attention of the English angler on the continent will 

 frequently be awakened to contemplations and specula- 

 tions of this nature. He will be forcibly struck and 

 the impression will not easily be effaced from his mind 

 by witnessing the steady, consistent, persevering assiduity 



